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Follow these steps to find a missing Nintendo Switch
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Has your Nintendo Switch gone missing? Unfortunately, the Switch doesn't have a GPS like your cell phone, so you can't use apps like Find My or Google Find My Device to locate it. In this article, we go over a couple of ways to find your Switch, but ultimately if you can't find it, you may have to report the item missing to local authorities. Read on to learn more.
What to Do If Your Switch is Lost
If you have a pair of Joy-Cons connected to the device, you can use them to locate your Switch by pairing them and accessing the quick menu to adjust the volume, which will make a sound. Otherwise, you'll need to report your Switch stolen to law enforcement.
Steps
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Grab a spare pair of Joy-Cons that are connected to the Switch. This method only works if you have a second pair of Joy-Cons synced with the lost Nintendo Switch.- This method will also only work if the Switch is turned on or in sleep mode.
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Press the Home button on the Joy-Con. If the Switch is nearby, this will cause it to wake up out of sleep mode.Advertisement -
Press the L and R buttons on the Joy-Cons. Watch to see if the Joy-Cons connect. If they do, continue to the next step. If not, repeat steps 2 and 3 until the Joy-Cons connect. -
Press and hold the Home button for a few seconds. This will open the quick menu on your Switch. -
Move the left joystick down three times. This will move the cursor to the volume settings in the quick menu. -
Push the joystick left and right. This will increase and decrease the volume on the Switch, which will cause it to make a noise. This noise will help you locate your Switch. [1] X Research source- Note: The noise that your Switch makes when adjusting the volume is pretty faint. You'll need to listen closely to hear the sound, and you may not hear it if your Switch is buried under some blankets or stuck between the couch cushions.
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Tips
- Since the Switch doesn't have any GPS or tracking capabilities, Nintendo won't be able to help you locate your device.Thanks
- If you misplace your Switch often, consider attaching a Bluetooth tracker to it (such as an AirTag or Tile tracker). It will allow you to track your Switch's location using the Find My app (on Apple devices, if you're using an AirTag) or the tracking app for the model of tracker that you have.Thanks
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